Hundreds of class 8 and form 4 candidates from the Rendile community in Marsabit county are likely to miss out in this year’s national examinations due in March and April following the ongoing circumcision ceremony which is clashing with the school calendar
Attempts by the Ministry of Education (MoE) to have the community rite of passage shelve the ceremony which happens after every 14 years failed.
The exercise is expected to continue until 27th February 2021 but even as the community celebrates this milestone there is a cause for alarm as hundreds of boys have dropped out of school for the cut.
The clash between culture and education is what has forced the Ministry of Education to send a team to engage the community to delay the ceremony and allow candidates to seat for their national exams.
The Chief Administrative Secretary (CAS) in the ministry of education
Mumina Bonaya led the campaign team to urge parents to ensure the candidates returned to school in time to sit for the exams.
Despite government concerns, specialists from the region say culture will ultimately carry the day as most families emphasise on their boys going through the process which continues for more than one month.
The exam calendar which was hugely affected by the coronavirus pandemic is now confronting another new challenge in the name of culture with the fate of candidates hanging in the balance.
The Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) exams commence early in march while the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) exam starts on the 25th of march this year.
